Publish What You Pay – United States Director Filmona Hailemichael’s
response to Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Chair
Fredrik Reinfeldt’s May 30, 2018
statement
responding to US civil society’s
grievance
complaint against ExxonMobil and Chevron for refusal to disclose tax
payments in the United States, ultimately leading to US Withdrawal from
the EITI:

Washington, DC – “We appreciate the strong statement from EITI Chair
Fredrik Reinfeldt recognizing the unprecedented nature of EITI board
members, ExxonMobil and Chevron, deliberately refusing to disclose tax
payments in the US as part of US EITI implementation. We agree with the
Chair, that the companies’ lack of transparency undermines EITI’s
principles.”

“As the Chair states, there are “no separate rules for countries, companies
and civil society organisations represented on the EITI Board.” ExxonMobil
and Chevron should report in the US as they have reported in other EITI
countries, and as other EITI implementing companies have reported in the US
and around the world.”

“The Chair also cites the importance of consistency between the EITI
Standard and the project-level disclosure laws in the US and Europe.
ExxonMobil and Chevron have long opposed the US’s implementation of Section
1504 of the Dodd-Frank Act, and
successfully lobbied
to have the SEC’s 2016 rule repealed in early 2017. Meanwhile, many
ExxonMobil and Chevron competitors (such as Shell, BP, Statoil, and Total)
have been reporting without issue in Europe, Canada, and Norway, where
similar laws are in place. ExxonMobil, Chevron, and the American Petroleum
Institute are largely to blame for the continued secrecy of the US oil and
mining sectors, while other major markets have embraced the transparency
that investors and citizens of resource-rich countries have long sought.”

“ExxonMobil and Chevron’s damaging actions require more than strong
condemnation. These companies should stop undermining transparency
initiatives while simultaneously claiming credit for supporting
transparency. The EITI Chair and Board should call upon ExxonMobil and
Chevron to formally respond in writing, and in public, to the
grievance letter
civil society submitted earlier this year.”

“PWYP-US remains committed to supporting EITI and applauds Chair Reinfeldt
for issuing a statement criticizing the egregious actions of ExxonMobil and
Chevron.”